Coreopsis plant named ‘Sylvester’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Coreopsis  plant named ‘Sylvester’, characterized by its bright yellow-colored inflorescences, medium green-colored, deeply-dissected foliage having thread-like segments, moderate growth vigor, well-branched, upright-mounded, compact growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Coreopsisverticillata.

Variety denomination: ‘Sylvester’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCoreopsis plant botanically known as Coreopsis verticillata andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Sylvester’.

The new cultivar originated from an open pollination in June 2003 in acontrolled nursery location in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is ‘Zagreb’, not patented,characterized by its bright yellow-colored inflorescences, mediumgreen-colored, deeply-dissected foliage having thread-like segments, andupright-mounded, compact growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of thenew cultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was discovered and selected asa single flowering plant within the progeny of the above statedopen-pollination during June 2007 in a controlled environment inBoskoop, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceJune 2007 in Boskoop, The Netherlands has demonstrated that the newcultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, asherein described, firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Sylvester’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Coreopsis plant:

-   -   1. Bright yellow-colored inflorescences;    -   2. Medium green-colored, deeply-dissected foliage having        thread-like segments;    -   3. Moderate growth vigor;    -   4. Well-branched, upright-mounded, compact growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Coreopsis cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is the female parent ‘Zagreb’, notpatented. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the newcultivar differ from plants of ‘Zagreb’ in at least the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter than plants of        ‘Zagreb’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller diameter flowers than        plants of ‘Zagreb’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar are better branched than plants of        ‘Zagreb’.

In addition plants of the new cultivar are similar to the Coreopsiscultivar ‘Tweety’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,347. However, in side by sidecomparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Tweety’in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a darker foliage color than        plants of ‘Tweety’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are wider than plants of ‘Tweety’;        and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a larger diameter        inflorescence than plants of ‘Tweety’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Sylvester’. Oneplant per 1 gallon container was grown for approximately 16 weeks in agreenhouse in Elburn, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Sylvester’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘Sylvester’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in July 2012 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom in vitro plantlets and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse underconditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plantswere grown in Elburn, Ill. in 1-gallon pots for approximately 16 weeksutilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures weremaintained at approximately 50° F. to 70° F. (10.0° C. to 21.1° C.)during the day and approximately 35° F. to 50° F. (1.7° C. to 10.0° C.)during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurementsand numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Coreopsis verticillata cultivar Sylvester.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘Zagreb’, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Unknown Coreopsis verticillata plant.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 21 days at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 42 days at            20° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, thin, white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a one-gallon container.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial,            moderate growth vigor, well-branched, upright-mounded,            compact growth habit.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 20.5 cm. Width: Approximately 26.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching improves basal            branching. Quantity of lateral branches per plant:            Approximately 45.        -   Lateral branch.—Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately            7.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Length of central            internode: Approximately 1.7 cm. Texture: Slightly glossy,            glabrous. Color of young and mature stems: 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch:            Approximately 12. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Single.            Arrangement: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem; perpendicular to obtuse            angle to stem with age. Shape: Upper leaves linear, lower            mature leaves overall shape ovate having three to five            linear lobes having a thread-like appearance. Margin:            Entire, deeply dissected. Apex of divisions: Acuminate.            Base: Sessile, truncate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length            of mature leaf: Approximately 3.6 cm. Width of mature leaf:            3.1 cm. Texture of upper surface: Very slightly glossy,            glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Moderately glossy,            glabrous. Color of upper and lower surfaces of young            foliage: 143B with indistinguishable venation. Color of            upper and lower surfaces of mature foliage: 137B            indistinguishable venation.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Sylvester’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the            plant.—Approximately 14 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Daisy-type composite,            actinomorphic. Persistent. Shape: Round. Aspect: Erect.            Arrangement: Terminal capitulum, positioned above and below            the foliage. Quantity per plant: Approximately 22. Diameter:            Approximately 3.0 cm. Depth: Approximately 8.0 mm.            Fragrance: None detected.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:            Approximately 2.5 cm. Diameter: Less than 1.0 mm. Texture:            Glabrous, slightly glossy. Color: Closest to 137B.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 4 to 5 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open inflorescence.            Quantity per plant: Approximately 50.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblate. Diameter:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Depth: Approximately 3.0 mm. Color:            152A to 152B.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 8.            Arrangement: In a single whorl, slightly imbricate. Aspect:            Slightly concave. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex:            Three acute tips. Base: Cuneate. Length: Approximately            1.3 cm. Width: Approximately 7.0 mm. Texture of upper and            lower surfaces: Glabrous, axially ribbed. Color of upper and            lower surfaces when first open: 13A. Color of upper and            lower surfaces when fully open: 12A.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 28.            Arrangement: Massed in center of inflorescence. Shape:            Tubular, lower 90% fused. Margin: Entire. Apex: Five acute            tips. Base: Fused. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of outer surface: Slightly            glossy, glabrous. Texture of inner surface: Glandular            pubescent on tips. Color of upper or inner surface when            first and fully open: 151D with tips of 1A. Color of lower            or outer surface when fully open: 151D with tips of 1A.        -   Disc.—Diameter: Approximately 1.0 cm. Depth: Approximately            5.0 mm.        -   Receptacle.—Shape: Cone. Height: Approximately 1.0 mm.            Diameter at base: Approximately 3.0 mm. Color: 144B to 144C.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 16.            Arrangement: In two equally divided whorls. Base of outer            bracts fused into cup-shaped base, inner bracts surround            receptacle, slightly imbricate, held close to ray florets.        -   Outer phyllaries.—Shape of free portion: Lanceolate. Margin:            Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Length: Approximately            5.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper and            lower surfaces: Glabrous, glossy. Color of upper and lower            surfaces: N137B.        -   Inner phyllaries.—Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire. Apex:            Broadly acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm.            Width: Approximately 2.5 mm. Texture of upper and lower            surfaces: Glabrous, slightly glossy. Color of upper and            lower surfaces: 152C to 152D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Stamen quantity: 5. Stamen length: Approximately            4.0 mm. Filament length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Filament            color: 150C. Anther shape: Oblong, basifixed. Anther length:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: 200A. Pollen amount:            Moderate to abundant. Pollen color: 12A. Gynoecium: Present            on ray and disc florets. Pistil quantity: 1 per floret.            Pistil length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft.            Stigma length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 154C.            Style length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Style color: 154C to            154D. Ovary length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary color: 151D.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Coreopsis has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Coreopsis plantnamed ‘Sylvester’, substantially as herein shown and described.